28.7.16

Court Order Or Not, Our National Convention Will Still Hold - PDP

THE Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the Chairman
of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, CON has
reacted to the Ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday July
28, 2016, presided over by the controversial Judge, Justice Okon Abang
describing it as objectionable, questionable and very strange to say the
least in the history of Nigeria Judiciary.
The
Party in a statement by its Spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye declared
that what Justice Okon Abang did today is to Seat on an Appeal over the
Court of competent and coordinate jurisdiction and that’s what makes his
Interlocutory Order very strange. The Judgment of the Federal High
Court in Port Harcourt was very clear that the National Caretaker
Committee was duly constituted and recognized; and in line with that,
the scheduled National Convention for August 17, 2016 still holds.

"We
have just received information that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal
High Court in Abuja has granted an Order of Interlocutory Injunction
stopping our scheduled National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, but we want to state that the Judgment of the 4th of July, 2016
supersedes any Ex-Parte Order or Interlocutory Injunctions. So, our
National Convention will hold as scheduled in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State" Prince Adeyeye said.

Let Nigerians recall the two
former Judgments before the Port Harcourt Judgment, declared that
Senator Sheriff is not qualified to be a National Chairman given that
the PDP Constitution 2014 which he claimed brought him to power is not
in existence and therefore, null and void.

The PDP wants
Nigerians to know that Justice Okon Abang is deliberately engaging in
acts of derailing the Country’s democracy given the fact that his Court
is not an Appeal Court that can set aside any Judgment. He has penchant
for abuse of court processes and actions of legal impunity. This Judge
Nigerians will recall, issued Judgment against the Governor of Abia
State that led to INEC re-issuing another Certificate of Return to a man
who did not contest election thereby causing unnecessary hardship on
the people of that State. He also issued an Order to INEC to recognize
Senator Sheriff’s candidates in Edo and Ondo states before they could
even plan their purported congress in Edo.

In today’s Case,
this same Judge out rightly denied the PDP representation in Court which
is unheard of by serving the Plaintiff (Sheriff & Co.) who
instituted the Case also as PDP (defendants). His excesses are extremely
absurd, strange and unbecoming of a Judge who enjoys putting the
Judiciary on the spot. We therefore bring this matter before the highest
level of Judiciary in the Country to stop this Judge forthwith from
waging war against the PDP.

We are equally calling on
Nigerians and the international community to compel Nigeria Judiciary to
address Justice Abang’s excesses before he kills our hard earned
democracy.

However, the Party is law abiding and therefore, will apply for Stay of Execution of this Order and also Appeal it.

Finally,
the Party calls on all its members and teaming supporters nationwide to
remain calm and law abiding and be rest assured that the PDP National
Convention will hold as scheduled and all preparation towards the August
17, 2016 National Convention remains the same.